In the end, my concern over Brillum's continued silence won over my desire to not seem rude as another half an hour passed an we did not receive word on his status. I excused myself from the festivities, Lagdon and Kishi close on my heels.

  "I don't like this..." I muttered, biting my lip as we walked at a brisk pace. My intention was to go toward the nearest exit from the city and ask the guards there if a messenger had reported in, at least.

  "Neither do I. Should I summon some others and arrange a search party?" Lagdon asked, his voice low and aggressive. We were all on edge here.

  "Yes, I think that-"

  "Enna! There!" Kishi announced, dashing a head of me and hurrying down the now deserted road. Everyone else was back at the party aside from a handful of guards spread out over the city. "I smell fox blood!"

  My own blood running cold, picturing one of my people dead on the pavers as that poor harpy man had been, I hurried after my fox companion with Lagdon at my side. We followed Kishi's creamy tails around a corner then came to an abrupt stop, causing me to nearly crash into the guardian.

  "What-?" I stopped before the question could completely form on my lips and gasped. "Brillum!"

  "Lady Enna..." Groaned the other foxie male. He stood, leaning heavily against the stone wall of an abandoned building, blood streaked back in the direction he had come. Slung over his shoulder was the vibrant red foxie, Brillum.

  "Brazix! What happened?" Snapped Lagdon, hurrying forward to remove the barely conscious Brillum off the brown furred Brazix's shoulder and lower him to the ground.

  Brazix let out a cough before sliding to the stone pavers, the streak of blood following him down. He sat and watched as Lagdon checked for vitals on Brillum, and I knelt next to my red foxie friend. "The- the Drallda tribe..."

  I snarled, feeling my own powers flash briefly, my fingers buried in Brillum's soft but blood soaked fur. "They did this?!" Of course they did. Who else would dare?

  "Yes." Grunted Brazix, clutching his ribs cage, making me suspect that he had a couple broken bones there. "I ran into Brillum and what was left of the others half way to the meet up place- cough, cough- they were pretty wounded but managing fine. Bri- Brillum shouted at me to t-turn around and hurry to report to you, sir Lagdon. But then they ambushed us again."

  "Damn ogres..." Lagdon growled, removing his now red stained hands from Brillum's fur. "He isn't critical, but has lost a lot of blood, and looks like he might have a broken arm. We should get him to Luxana right away."

  "Is she back at the party?" I asked, a little frantic. I didn't remember seeing her there, and she stuck out quite well with all that silky white fur.

  "No." Stated Kishi. "I think she decided to keep Draxly company as he guarded your chambers tonight..."

  "Lets get you both to her then." I said, eyeing the wounded Brazix.

  I slipped an arm under Brazix and helped him back to his feet, while Lagdon scooped up Brillum who's breaths were ragged. The brown foxie started to protest at first, then seemed to come to his senses that it was a foolish thing to do at this moment and leaned into me as we did our best to hurry back to my room, and hopefully our healer.

  I was furious! Not to mention horrified. If Brillum was the only one to survive this attack that meant that half a dozen of my people that had died at the yellow hands of Varda and the Drallda tribe.

  "How many jumped you?" Lagdon growled, eyes roaming from side to side as he took the lead, Kishi taking up the rear. "Was Varda with them?"

  "Many." Panted the brown foxie. He seemed worry to put his wight fully on me, but really, he weighed nothing. I could probably fireman carry a hobgoblin and make them look like a pillow rather than the half a ton of muscle they were. This fox was nothing. "More then there had been before..." He took a moment to catch a few panting breaths then continued. "Varda was not among them. But... My Lady, they were not all of the Drallda tribe."

  "What?" I asked, genuinely astonished and hurt. I actually though that Astrid was a trust worthy leader, even if we did not see eye to eye on everything. "The Morell were with them?"

  To my surprise, Brazix shook his head, blood and spittle dropping from the corner of his muzzle. "I had not seen these ogres before, L-lady Enna. They had pale blue skin. I almost thought they were hob-hobgoblins when first I saw them."

  So Varda sent for reinforcements from, not only her own tribe, but at least one other tribe as well. This wasn't good. With Brillum and the others dead or unconscious there was no way to know just what it was we were dealing with. Was there just a group of assassins hiding out in the jungle, waiting for us to leave Sky keeper, or was this a situation where Varda had some sort of joint ogre army ready to storm the keep, as it were?

  "This is not good. As soon as we get help for these two, we need to summon everyone and handle this." Lagdon said as we took a turn, our destination nearly in sight.

  "Agreed." I said, almost as growly as the hobgoblin.

  Then I nearly crashed into him. I stumbled back, keeping a firm grip on my injured friend, and looked up at Lagdon. His face was scrunched, and he was glaring toward the building the harpies had put us in.

  "What is it?" I asked, instinctively speaking quieter.

  "There should be guards out here..." He stated, shoulders tensed as Brillum panted in his arms.

  "I smell blood." Kishi growled. "Its feint, but fresh."

  "Damn it." I hissed.

  I looked at Brazix and Brillum, knowing we couldn't drag injured into a potential fight, especially with unknown odds. How the hell had they even gotten into Sky keeper without alerting the harpy guards at the very least?

  I was about to suggest hunting down another ally to at least leave our wounded with when the pained cry of a woman, quicky cut off, drew all of our attentions.

  "Luxana!" I breathed, voice still low, but the panic evident all the same.

  "Leave them here." Lagdon said, setting Brillum against a wall with an overhang, indicating that I should do the same with Brazix. As I set the brown foxie down next to the struggling red one, Lagdon spoke to him. "Watch him. If you see anyone come by get aid and send for reinforcements."

  Still clearly in pain, Brazix nodded and leaned against the wall. After a pained grunt, he leaned over and started to check Brillum's injuries.

  "You could stay with them..." Lagdon suggested, seeing that I was reluctant to just leave wounded here alone. I was sure that that would make him happier, but we both knew that I wouldn't be avoiding the fight ahead, not when more of my people were clearly in danger.

  "No. Lets go." I said, setting a supportive hand on Brazix's shoulder briefly, trying to at least funnel a little extra energy to the two males who could clearly use need. I saw him relax a little, and Brillum's breathing seemed to even out slightly.

  We hurried toward our accommodations, as well as the direction we had heard Luxana call out. Though we were going at a speed that was beyond a walk, we did not rush, figuring that it would just be us speeding toward an ambush.

  It was when the building came into view that I saw the blood. There was a puddle on the ground and stretching around a near by building leading from it was evident drag marks of a body being taken away. My first instinct was to follow the trail, but logic told me that that would be the wrong thing to do. It was very likely a trap meant to lure us in.

  "Do you sense the enemy?" Lagdon asked Kishi who was still at the rear. We were all crouched behind some barrels several feet from our destination.

  "The stench of blood and ogres is everywhere." Said Kishi, her muzzle wrinkling in distaste. "I would guess that there are at least half a dozen of them here."

  "But no hidden army, right?" I assumed that it would be a heck of a lot harder to hide an army around these dilapidated buildings. Especially and army of brightly colored giants.

  "I highly doubt it."

  "Come out, come out... Little god." Came a loud, cold chuckle that I recognized instantly, and it boiled my blood. Varda!

  "Tch." Spat Lagdon, peeking around our hiding place. Clearly he saw something that he found irritating. "Its her. She is just standing there, looking as arrogant as always."

  "I know you are there." She called out, clearly amused with herself. I could almost see the moon glow on the white walls of the dilapidated buildings surrounding us, reflecting of that stupid, bald, yellow head of hers. "Why not come out."

  I almost wanted to stay hidden, just to spite the ogress, but then I heard the muffled sob of a woman, and knew that the woman must have had Luxana held hostage. Biting my lip, it made me wonder where the blood streak had come from, and exactly what had Varda done to Draxly and the others.

  With a nod from Lagdon, I held in my rage for a moment, and we stepped out into the open. Varda stood front and center, arms folded and a mocking sneer on her face. She was living her best villain moment. Behind her stood two other ogre woman, one from her own tribe, while the other appeared to be from the mysterious blue skinned ogre tribe. She had long, dark grey braids, bright yellow eyes, and her skin was a pale greyish blue color.

  However, it wasn't the appearance of this woman that had my rage spiking at that moment. No, It was the fact that she had poor Luxana by the throat at her feet. The foxmen woman clearly had a black eye and her mouth was covered by the same massive hand wrapped around her neck. I was about to shout for her release while simultaneously reassuring her that we would have her to safety in a moment. Then I noticed that she wasn't even looking at me.

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  "Your people were much weaker than I would have thought." Sneered Varda, clearly enjoying her position of power. Kishi snarled at my hip, but I was still focused on Luxana.

  The white furred woman's eyes were locked tearfully somewhere to my right. I followed her line of sight and let out a choked gasp.

  Probably knowing what I was looking at, Varda laughed. Further laughter proved that we were surrounded by at least four or five other ogres, probably stationed next to near by buildings. We had been right to assume that this was an ambush. But I didn't care too much about that at this second. This was because my attention was solely on the apparent corpses/ injured bodies thrown and dragged back against a crumbled stone wall not far away. Amongst them was the shiny black fur of my good friend Draxly.

  The foxies fur was matted, his armor torn and broken, and his eyes were shut. He looked, for all intents and purposes, dead.

  "You are a fool, ogre." Lagdon snarled, his weapon at the ready with Kishi now at his side, creamy fur on end, her eyes glowing a blood red. "You must be looking for a painful death."

  Varda spat on the ground. "I am not impressed, small hobgoblin prince. So far I have found your people pitifully pathetic. It is understandable, given how disappointing the so called god you follow is."

  I tore my eyes away from Draxly, praying that he and the others were just knocked unconscious and that I could help them soon. Instead, I fixed them upon my newest enemy: Varda. A rage began to build in me that could only be compared to how I felt toward Mittens before I sealed him into the form of my pet cat.

  "Shut your mouth!" Snapped Lagdon, eyes almost bugging out of his head. "How dare your clan openly attack the land god's people! Do you think that you all will simply walk away from this?"

  "Ha! And what consequences do you think we will face? A stern talking to?" She let out a raspy peel of maniacal laughter. "Or maybe she will make good on her threat of bringing famine and misfortune upon the Drallda? Well, as you can see, the Drallda are not alone in their displeasure at being commanded by some meek human without a spine. There are several ogre tribes that are against this change, and we will kill your fool of a god, and replace her with a candidate of our own!"

  "How stupid could you be?" Snarled Kishi, her fur looking spikey with her rage and agitation. "Do you truly believe that a god can be made, simply by killing the current one and announcing some random ogre as the new one?"

  Varda shrugged. "We care not whether a true god takes Lady Enna's place, merely that it is a true and honorable ogre that leads these lands toward future glory!"

  Crazy. Delusional. Incomprehensible.

  These, and many less friendly descriptors crossed my mind as I looked upon the grandstanding Varda. For a moment I couldn't fathom how she could be so dumb. How she could think that this would turn out well for her, and the other tribes that followed her? But then I realized that, of course she thought she had a chance. Other than a minor show of strength when we first met, Varda had only seen me as a mostly silent observer with vastly different ideals to her own. To her, I was a god in name alone.

  Clearly she needed to have proof that I was not a woman to be trifled with. But not just her... the ogres as a whole needed to know that I was not a being that they simply needed to gang up on to remove. They needed to know just how foolish an idea that was.

  My people were hurt and dead... and that was on me. My resolve to treat monsters as monsters had been set, and I had stood by it. But I now realized that I haven't been grandiose enough. Sure, I had taken down the specter, an incarnation of Aeros himself, but that had been done in the shadows of the Dark, where none but a handful of people had seen.

  Aeros himself was a real butt-face... But I probably should have taken a few pages from his book. He had made sure that every monster, human, elf, and whatever else may exist knew not to mess with him, and knew that he was the most supreme being around. In Varda's eyes, I was merely a place holder. Aeros had died suddenly and the powers that be needed to fill his empty slot and they took me and put me there till a better option came along. Maybe Varda believed that she was that better option.

  "Release Luxana now." I stated coldly, stepping out from behind my guardian and my bodyguard. "Or does the great and impressive Varda intend to steal my position by using an innocent fox healer as a shield. Heck, I even did better then that, and I was nothing but a mysterious woman in the woods." This time it was my turn to sneer at the ogress.

  Varda's seemingly permanent smirk seemed to falter and she, instead, glared my way. After a second she nodded her head at the blue skinned ogress, and the other woman flippantly tossed Luxana aside, having her sprawl out on the cobbled street with a grunt.

  "There, its not like I took her as a hostage." Varda chuckled. "You simply arrived before I killed her too."

  I glared as the blue ogress raised a fist, aiming for the struggling Luxana, whose eyes were still focused on Draxly.

  "Kishi." I said calmly, and my fox guardian knew what I wanted from her in an instant.

  With a burst of speed the massive fox darted between Luxana and the ogres, sinking her fangs into the raised arm of the blue one, who let out a shout, more of rage than pain.

  Luxana took the opportunity to scramble away, heading straight for Draxly. She was bruised and pale faced, but that didn't stop her from dragging the black furred foxie into her lap and begin casting her healing magic upon him.

  "Lagdon, aid Kishi. I'll join you as soon as I check on the others and get them out of the way." I ordered the hobgoblin. This time, he did not protest, merely nodded and rushed into the fray. Between him and Kishi, I was given enough cover to make my way toward the fallen.

  I didn't get there unhampered, however. Two male ogres rushed out of the shadows, charging at me full force. but I was beyond caring about them. This was the cold blooded Enna, and with my friend's lives on the line, there was no room for my usual, magnanimous, sympathy. Channeling hobgoblin strength, and focusing on my hands, I willed my nails to grow, morphing my body just enough to cause my finger tips to grow into harpy like claws.

  In an instant, and a spray of dark blood, I had on ogre decapitated and the other pressed against a wall with such force that it shattered beneath us. As soon as we landed on the cold floor of an abandoned building I wasted no time dispatching the second ogre, piercing my claws straight through thick ogre flesh and bone.

  Ignoring the gore on my hands, I hurried out of the building and made my way to Luxana. I desperately wanted to check on Draxly, but he had Luxana to take care of him. I needed to check on the other three.

  I cursed under my breath as the sounds of battle echoed behind me. Dead. Two hobgoblins and a goblane, just gone. Three people who were entrusted to my care, and three people who gave their all to ensure my own safety.

  I held back an angry shout. This wasn't the time to grieve, and even if rage was flooding my veins, I had to hold it together, if only for Luxana.

  She was still leaned over the broken Draxly, his furry head on her lap and one hand gripped around her forearm. I saw then that he had woken up a some point, but it was clear that he was not doing well.

  "Draxly..." I breathed, falling to my knees at their side. Luxana was weeping, the light of her magic stuttering in and out.

  "Its alright Luxana..." Wheezed the foxie as Luxana's tears fell upon his face. "That's enough now."

  "No!" Luxana croaked, refusing to even consider giving up. "I can do it!"

  But I knew as well as Draxly, that just was not true. Now that I was nearer, I could see that it was a miracle (probably brought on by the effects of Luxana's desperate magic) that Draxly was awake and talking at all. He was missing an arm, one leg was bent horribly, and I could see a visible indentation where his rib cage should have been protecting his heart, the leather armor long since torn away.

  Draxly's affectionate, sad, desperate gaze left his newly formed love so that he could address me for a moment. "Enna..." He breathed. Him dropping the 'Lady' part had me choking up and I felt hot tears begin to roll down my cheeks. "Continue to look after my people as you have been. Look after Luxana them with all of your kindness, unblemished by these dark things..."

  All I could do was shake my head, trying to deny the facts clearly set before me. Draxly could not die! I wouldn't allow it!

  I set a hand on his disturbingly chill shoulder and attempted to funnel whatever power I could into the foxie, gathering it from all sources. It began to fill my own body, the flickering's of the purple magic I had seen before condensing around my own body, but not Draxly. Why?

  Draxly let out a choking cough, his eyes cloudy, but darting between the two women weeping above him. He lifted his remaining hand and caressed Luxana's cheek. "We always seemed to miss one another..." He said, causing the woman to lean into his dark palm. "But I am glad that we reached one another before the end."

  "Please... just stay..." Luxana begged, her voice tight with emotion.

  "I can not."

  At that both Luxana and myself wept harder. Why wouldn't my magic work!? Hadn't it worked before?

  "Save your power." Draxly breathed my way, those eyes piercing me through. "Enna, even a god can not cheat death when it is time. There are others in need of your power."

  "Lagdon and Kishi can handle that worthless ogre on their own!" I snapped, refusing to accept Draxly's words. I could save him, I would save him!

  "I am sure, but I wasn't speaking of just this fight."

  I shook my head, unable to speak. I was sure that my form must have changed, as I could see through my tears that my skin had gained an ethereal glow, and the purple magic was dancing around my body. But still I could not get it to go to Draxly.

  "I am going to tear that tribe to pieces!" I snarled with venom that I had not felt before. Again shoving the power towards Draxly with no effect.

  "Luxana... Do not loose hope." Draxly said, clearly deciding that convincing me was a lost cause and wanting to speak with her before his inevitable passing. NO. "As grand a world Lady Enna is making, it looses a little of its shine without you in it..." His voice began to grow feint, his words slurring slightly.

  "Draxly! I love you!" Luxana wept, great heaving sobs wracking her small, frail body.

  "I... Love you... too..."

  There was a last exhale of breath, and Draxly's paw slipped from Luxana's cheek. She grabbed it with shaking hands before it could hit the cobbles of the street. I knelt above them, cold and numb, Luxana's sobs the theme music to my soul.

  Gone? As in dead? Draxly?

  He had been with me from just about the start. A sturdy and silent protector; a true and enduring friend. My family... Rage and despair fought for supremacy within me, the energy I had collected- so desperate to save just one man- burned and swarmed throughout my body, eager to act upon either emotion.

  "M-my Lady?" Hiccoughed the young woman. She was equal parts pale and red faced from crying, Draxly's paw clasped tightly to her chest, now held up by her power alone. It was the fear and concern in her eyes that brought me out of my emotional spiral, however. I was scaring her.

  I bit my lip, desperate to get my emotions in check. Draxly was gone, something I wasn't really able to accept, but I also could not allow the thing he cherished most to come to harm. With him gone, I was what was left to protect Luxana. I sure as heck shouldn't be scaring her myself.

  I reached out a pale, glowing hand and caressed her sodden face. "I am so sorry Luxana... But we need to be strong." I said, speaking to myself as much as the white furred fox woman. I decided to focus on the rage, as I had a clear way to dispel it. My eyes landed on the fight between my people and the ogres.

  I had not been lying when I said that Kishi and Lagdon were more than enough for Varda and her henchmen. That woman had no idea the trouble she had gotten herself into. Already I could see that most of the yellow and blue ogres lay dead or dying on the dilapidated street, and my companions did not look too worse for wear.

  Unfortunately for Varda, she would not get the battle she wanted. And absolutely would not be getting the result she had counted on. They angered the wrong woman, and it was time she learned that.

  I looked back down at the distraught Luxana. "I know it hurts, but others need us now. We can mourn after."

  Her lower lip trembled briefly, but she seemed to gather her resolve and nodded. She reluctantly slipped out from under Draxly, lowering his head to the floor with utmost care. Then got to her feet with a new determination.

  "What do you need of me, Lady Enna?"

  "Just around that building are Brillum and Brazix. Both are wounded, Brillum especially. I refuse to loose anymore of my people today." I added with a slight growl. No doubt I had branch like antlers and a wreath of flowers in my hair, but I did not have the energy to spare to care about that.

  Luxana took a deep, steadying breath, nodded curtly, then rushed to the building I had indicated. Brillum had been Draxly's best friend, so I was sure that the healer would be highly motivated to assure his life. This also meant that the fragile and emotionally hurt woman was away from the fight- no, massacre- to come.

  As Luxana vanished from my line of sight, I focused on the fight going on behind me. My people had the clear advantage, and I could see the confused panic reflected in Varda's eyes. She was about to find out just how stupid a fight she had picked.